github.com/hashicorp/packer@v1.14.3/website/content/docs/communicators/index.mdx (about) 1 --- 2 description: | 3 Communicators are remote-access programs Packer uses to perform actions, such as upload files and execute scripts, on the machines Packer creates. 4 page_title: Communicators overview 5 --- 6 7 # Communicators overview 8 9 Communicators are the mechanism Packer uses to upload files, execute scripts, 10 etc. with the machine being created. 11 12 Communicators are configured within the 13 [builder](/packer/docs/templates/legacy_json_templates/builders) section. Packer currently supports 14 three kinds of communicators: 15 16 - `none`: Packer does not use a communicator and cannot use most provisioners. 17 - [`ssh`](/packer/docs/communicators/ssh): Packer establishes an SSH connection to the machine. This is usually the default. 18 - [`winrm`](/packer/docs/communicators/winrm): Packer establishes a WinRM connection. 19 20 In addition to the above, some builders have custom communicators they can use. 21 For example, the Docker builder has a "docker" communicator that uses 22 `docker exec` and `docker cp` to execute scripts and copy files. 23 24 For more details on how to use each communicator, click the links above to be 25 taken to each communicator's page.